Surgical instrument.



C. M. & M. C. GEORGE.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION man 02c. 1. 1916 1,231,250 Patented June 26,1917.

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CHESTER M. GEORGE AND MARY C. GEORGE, 033 NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed December 1 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHESTER M. GEORGE and MARY C. GEORGE, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Newport, Newport county, State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SurgicalInstruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a surgical instrument of the type having twomembers pivotally connected and formed with a tool means at one end andfinger holds at the other end whereby the instrument may be manipulated.The object of the invention is to improve the construction of the fingerholds so that the manipulation of the instrument may be facilitated.

The figure in the drawing illustrates the invention as embodied inhemostatic forceps, although it is obvious that the invention may beapplied to any form of instrument of this type, such as other types offorceps. scissors, punches, etc. As shown, the device comprises the twomembers 10 and 11 pivotally connected in any suitable manner at 12 andformed at one of their ends with the'tool means 13. At the opposite endsthe members are formed with finger holds 14 and 15 and adjacent theseholds one of the members as 11 may be formed with a series of ratchetteeth 16, which are adapted to cooperate with a ratchet tooth 17 formedon the member 10 to lock the two members in closed position.

The improvement constituting the sub ect matter of this inventionconsists in forming the finger holds substantially U-shape so that thefingers may be readily withdrawn from the open ends of the said holds.As clearly illustrated these U-shaped holds consist of two substantiallyparallelly arranged limbs 18 and 19 connected by a curved portion 20,and it will be observed that the two limbs 19 are slightly curved awayfrom each other and that the two outer limbs 18 have a slight re versecurvature,the ends of these lateral limbs being curved slightly outwardand away from each other. Thus it will be observed that because of thecurvature of the limbs of the finger holds the fingers may very easilyenter and leave the holds through the open ends thereof. Furthermore. byforming the limbs slightly curved as stated. it will be apparent that incases where it is necessary to use the forceps or other instrument topull on a member this may be more Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1917.

Serial No. 134,453.

easily done than if the limbs were straight. The size of the fingerholds and spacing apart of the same, of course, may be constructed tofit the hand of the particular surgeon, or operator.

In the use oi surgical instruments of the type herein mentioned it isvery often necessary to grasp a member or part such as a tissue and thenimmediately release the instrument. It is obvious and well known that ininstruments having the closed ring type finger holds the fingers veryoften catch in the said holds and that it is always more or lessditlicult to release the instrument from the fingers. The greatadvantages of the form of finger holds herein disclosed are obvious.

A surgeon in grasping an instrument does not desire to take time. andusually never does. to grip the instrument in such a manner as to permita quick release of the same, but he always does grasp it in such a waythat he has a positive hold on the same. To do this his fingers andthumb must necessarily pass well into the rings of the finger holds,thereby making it ditlicult to release the instrument. It is especiallydiscomforting and exasperating to have an instrument remain in the handwhen immediate release without especial effort or attention is desired.The open finger holds as described facilitate the releasing of theinstrument thereby increas ing the precison. exactness and speed withwhich the instrument can be used without impairing the essential purposeof the same.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a surgical instrument comprising two members pivoted togetherintermediate their ends and each having tool means at one end and afinger hold at the other end. and means for locking the two members inclosed position, the iimorovemont which con sists in Forming said holdssubstantially U- shaped and arranged with the opening at the rear end ofthe hold whereby the fingers may be easily withdrawn rearwardly from theholds.

2. In a surgical instrument comprising two members pivoted togetherintermediate their ends and each having tool means at one end and afinger hold at the other end and means for locking the two members inclosed position, the improvement which consists in forming said holdssubstantially U- shaped with the two inner limbs curved slightly awayfrom each other and the ends of the outer limbs also being curved awayfrom each other said holds arranged With the openings therein at therear end of the hold.

3. In a surgical forceps comprising two members pivoted togetherintermediate their ends and each having gripping means at one end and afinger hold at the other end and means for locking the two members ingripping position the improvement which consists in forming said holdssubstantially U-shaped withthe outer limbs reversely curved, the outerends thereof being curved slightly outward and away from each other andsaid holds arranged with the openings therein at the rear of the hold.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

CHESTER M. GEORGE. MARY G. GEORGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D; 0.

